Gajendramokṣa

Gajendramokṣa, this text has been attributed to the Śāntiparva of the Mahābhārata in the colophan by the scribe although this text is not present in the critical edition. This Ms. contains a total of 161 metered verses. It contains the story of the elephant king named Gajendra while bathing in a lake. He is attacked by a crocodile who seizes him. At first he tries to free himself relying on his strength but failed since this was not a regular crocodile. He realized the limitations of his own strength and being helpless he surrendered to the supreme Hindu deity Viṣṇu acknowledging his dependence to the Lord. There is a part in the Bhāgavatapurāṇa and Vāmanapurāṇa also called Gajendramokṣa that narrates the same story. The Ms. contains the speaker titles Śatānaka, Śaunaka, Yudhiṣṭhira, Gajendra, Bhīṣma Uvāca. This Ms. is written in 9–12 lines per folio. Cover page is blank. Title present in colophon (f.14b) in red. There are double red vertical margins present on each side of the folio also on the edge of the paper. Text written in different hand in (f.11a). Significant syllables and words rubbed with orange powder for highlighting.